START WITH ART: Little Dancer Aged Fourteen

We START WITH ART each morning with our kids (Jenna's kids are 6 and 10, Janet's is 9). This takes us less than five minutes each morning and tends to be re-visited later in the day at the dinner table or during our evening reading sessions. We find this little exercise each morning ignites creativity and sparks critical thinking. 

Here's how to #STARTWITHART:

Step one: Take a look at the artwork below

Step two: Read the questions below the picture of the art to the students/children in your life

Step three: See how starting your day with art can ignite creativity and critical thinking! 

It's that easy! Let's START WITH ART!

Title: Little Dancer Aged Fourteen

Artist: Edgar Degas

Date: 1880-81, cast c.1922

Medium: Painted bronze with muslin and silk on wooden base

Dimensions: 98.4 × 41.9 × 36.5 cm

Start with Art Questions

• What do you think makes the Little Dancer special, and why do people find her interesting?

• Although the statue is cast in bronze (a metal), the ballerina's skirt is made from real fabric. How do you think the fabric skirt adds to the effect? 

• Use your imagination! If you were the subject of the sculpture, what dance pose would you choose, and why? Can you demonstrate? 

Add our START WITH ART calendar to yours by clicking here then click "add." Share how you're folding this into your daily routine by tagging us on Instagram @pageofarthistory and/or the tag #startwithart 🖼️